Aizawl Municipal Corporation mulls ban on plastic bags

Aizawl: In an effort to avoid environmental damage caused by hazardous use of plastics bags and tackle the growing plastics pollution, the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) is contemplating a city-wide ban on single-use plastic bags.

Mizoram is a state where plastic grocery bags are used in large quantity in shopping and business sectors to cater customers.

Concern has been raised over the growing plastic pollution in the state especially in cities and towns.

The AMC has taken a drastic step towards checking the growing plastic pollution in the capital and encourage people to choose paper bags instead of plastic bags.

Last year the Corporation had asked all churches in the capital to avoid using plastic plates and cups during festive season like Christmas and New Year celebration.

In Mizoram, plastics plates and cups are used in large quantity at community feast during festive season.

As part of efforts towards banning hazardous use of plastic bags, the AMC would organize “No Plastic Exhibition” in Aizawl during 20-21 September.

The proposed exhibition is an effort to spread awareness about the environmental damage caused by use of plastic bags and to encourage people to choose eco-friendly paper bags to protect green environment, AMC Commissioner Dr. H. Lalthlangliana told reporters at a press conference here on Tuesday.

He said that at least 21 stalls would be opened at the exhibition where local products will be sold at a subsidized price of 20 per cent discount.

Customers and visitors would not be allowed to carry plastic bags at the exhibition, he said.

According to the commissioner, efforts have been taken by the AMC to check the growing plastic pollution in the state capital.

He said that the corporation is mulling over phasing out single-use plastic bags and replace them with paper bags over the next year to protect environment.

The use of plastics bags in commercial sector has caused enormous environmental pollution in the state especially in the capital, he said.

Quoting the survey conducted by experts of Science Teachers Association, Mizoram (STAM) in 2017, Lalthlangliana said over 5 quintal of plastic bags are used and disposed every day by residents of Aizawl.

The growing use of plastic bag unless put on check can cause enormous environmental damage, he added.

According to the commissioner, a self-help group consisting of women in some parts of the state came up with an initiative to make paper bags with the help of newspapers and other waste materials, which gave them a new hope towards banning plastic bags.